Sniff ‘n’ the Tears -

Sniff ‘n’ the Tears were an English adult-oriented rock band from London that released four albums on Chiswick Records between 1978 and 1982, the first two issued stateside on Atlantic and the third on MCA. The band’s revolving lineup featured a slew of notable players, including the guitarists Mick Dyche (Wild Turkey), Loz Netto (Moon), Clem Clempson (Colosseum, Humble Pie), Rick Fenn (Gentlemen, 10cc), and Les Davidson (East of Eden).

Members: Paul Roberts (lead vocals, guitar, mandolin, harmonica, keyboards, bass), Luigi Salvoni (drums, percussion, 1975-79, 1992), Mick Dyche (guitar, 1977-80), Loz Netto (guitar, 1977-80), Chris Birkin (bass, 1977-79), Alan Feldman (keyboards, 1977-79), Nick South (bass, 1979-83, 2010-present), Mike Taylor (keyboards, 1979-81), Keith Miller (synthesizer, 1979), Les Davidson (guitar, 1981-83, 1992-present), Jamie Lane (drums, 1981-83), Rick Fenn (guitar, vocals, 1981-82), Miffy Smith (keyboards, synthesizer, 1981-82)

Background

Sniff ‘n’ the Tears began in London in 1973 as a pub-circuit band led by singer and songwriter Paul Roberts. Their manager coined the name “Sniff ‘n’ the Tears”—a play on Roberts’ hay fever—after Roberts originally suggested The Tears. The band built a small following through local residencies but disbanded when their guitarist was conscripted into military service and their manager reallocated resources to another act. Roberts left for France in 1974 and signed with a Paris-based label, recording one single and a set of demos before returning to the UK to resume his painting career.

Paul Roberts was born in Tiverton, Devon, in 1948 and raised in Wales by artist parents. He studied at Newport, Cardiff, and Goldsmiths Colleges of Art and mounted several solo exhibitions in London and Paris throughout the 1970s. His visual career paused when Sniff ‘n’ the Tears gained commercial traction in 1978; Roberts has since painted all the band’s album covers while maintaining parallel careers in art and music.

In 1977, former Moon drummer Luigi Salvoni—who had played on the 1975 demos with Roberts—revisited the tapes and offered to approach indie label Chiswick Records. After securing interest from label head Ted Carroll, Salvoni assembled a studio band that included Roberts, Moon guitarist Loz Netto, pianist Alan Feldman (from the R&B band FBI), guitarist Mick Dyche, and bassist Chris Birkin. They recorded Fickle Heart with engineer Steve Lipson, who proposed the sparse verse arrangement of “Driver’s Seat.”

The studio project became a formal band after Chiswick greenlit the album’s release. Sniff ‘n’ the Tears debuted publicly in late 1978 as a six-piece lineup: Roberts (vocals, acoustic guitar), Netto and Dyche (guitars), Feldman (keyboards), Birkin (bass), and Salvoni (drums). Both Netto and Salvoni had previously played on Moon’s two albums for Epic UK between 1975 and 1976.

Fickle Heart

Sniff ‘n’ the Tears released their debut album, Fickle Heart, in November 1978 on Chiswick (UK, Europe) and Atlantic (North America).

The album emerged from a 1977 studio regrouping between vocalist–guitarist Paul Roberts and drummer–producer Luigi Salvoni. Guitarists Loz Netto and Mick Dyche alternate rhythm and lead roles, with Alan Feldman on piano and organ, and Chris Birkin on bass. Keith Miller contributes Moog and string synth on “Driver’s Seat.” Roberts sings lead throughout and plays acoustic guitar.

Roberts wrote all eleven songs. “Sing” features Ron Lawrence on bass. “Looking for You” includes backing vocals by Jim Nellis and Noel McCalla.

A1. “Driver’s Seat” (4:00)
A2. “New Lines on Love” (3:40)
A3. “Carve Your Name on My Door” (2:33)
A4. “This Side of the Blue Horizon” (4:40)
A5. “Sing” (2:23) — bass: Ron Lawrence
A6. “Rock ’n’ Roll Music” (2:35)

B1. “Fight for Love” (3:45)
B2. “The Thrill of It All” (3:37)
B3. “Slide Away” (3:45)
B4. “Last Dance” (1:50)
B5. “Looking for You” (4:20) — backing vocals: Jim Nellis, Noel McCalla

Sessions occurred in autumn 1977 at Regents Park Recording Company in London with Salvoni producing and Stephen Lipson engineering. Bazza of Pathway Studios assisted on mixes. “Driver’s Seat” was initially recorded with full instrumentation, then stripped back in the verse sections by Lipson and Bazza, who proposed a cleaner mix with no electric guitar until the chorus. A faster re-recording solidified the arrangement. Feldman and Birkin departed shortly after tracking; Miller and bassist Nick South joined for the post-release touring lineup.

Fickle Heart features cover artwork by Paul Roberts and sleeve design by Andrew Young. Original copies include a printed lyric sheet.

Chiswick issued “Driver’s Seat” (b/w “Slide Away”) on October 23, 1978 (CHIS 105). Reissued in mid-1979 by Atlantic in the US, the single reached No. 15 on the Billboard Hot 100 and charted in Canada (No. 17), Australia (No. 13), New Zealand (No. 20), and the Netherlands (No. 4).

The Game’s Up

Sniff ‘n’ the Tears released their second album, The Game’s Up, in June 1980 on Chiswick and Atlantic.

The album follows a year of touring behind Fickle Heart, with Paul Roberts joined by returning guitarists Mick Dyche and Loz Netto, new keyboardist Mike Taylor, and bassist Nick South, who had joined for the US and German dates. Drumming duties are split between Paul Robinson, Richard Bailey, and Richard Marcangelo, with Noel McCalla contributing backing vocals on select tracks. Roberts supplies vocals and rhythm guitar and composed all nine songs.

A1. “The Game’s Up” (3:52)
A2. “Moment of Weakness” (3:13)
A3. “What Can Daddy Do?” (3:15)
A4. “Night Life” (3:57)
A5. “If I Knew Then” (4:57)

B1. “One Love” (3:20)
B2. “Five & Zero” (4:38)
B3. “Poison Pen Mail” (4:41)
B4. “Rodeo Drive” (6:22)

Recording took place in late 1979 at Rockfield Studios in Monmouthshire and the Roundhouse in London with Steve Lipson producing and engineering. Nick Tomory and Julien “Jools” Cooper assisted on engineering. The cow shed and a shotgun were used to create the explosions at the start of “Rodeo Drive.” Lipson and Roberts mixed the album in Paris to avoid studio interference from band members during post-production.

The Game’s Up features cover art painted by Paul Roberts, with back cover photography by Karen Knorr and design by Phil Smee. The original UK sleeve was replaced in the US with an alternate cover due to distributor concerns over content. Chiswick distributed the album with a printed lyric inner sleeve.

Two singles appeared on Chiswick in the UK: “One Love” (b/w “Five & Zero”) on May 16, 1980 (CHIS 129), and “Poison Pen Mail” (b/w “What Can Daddy Do?”) on September 12, 1980 (CHIS 131).

Love/Action

Sniff ‘n’ the Tears released their third album, Love/Action, in 1981 on Chiswick and MCA (North America).

The album features a new five-piece lineup with Paul Roberts joined by keyboardist Mike Taylor, bassist Nick South, guitarist Les Davidson, and drummer Jamie Lane. Davidson replaced departed guitarists Loz Netto and Mick Dyche, both of whom appear on early uncredited tracks recorded prior to the lineup change. Rick Fenn contributes additional guitar and vocals. Roberts sings lead, plays acoustic guitar, and wrote all ten songs.

A1. “The Driving Beat” (3:33)
A2. “Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is” (4:27)
A3. “Snow White” (4:19)
A4. “For What They Promise” (4:00)
A5. “Without Love” (4:00)

B1. “Steal My Heart” (4:33)
B2. “That Final Love” (3:52)
B3. “Don’t Frighten Me” (3:18)
B4. “Shame” (4:52)
B5. “Love / Action” (4:03)

Sessions took place at Chipping Norton Recording Studios with producer Mike Howlett and engineers Barry Hammond and Thomas Kukuck. Mike introduced the use of a click track to guide performance pacing. Final mixes were completed in Hamburg with Kukuck, best known for his work with Kraftwerk. Pat Crumley plays saxophone; Annie McCay, Mo McCafferty, and Mark Williamson provide backing vocals.

Love/Action features cover artwork and design by Paul Roberts, with photography by Adrian Boot and Nick South. Michael Behr handled sleeve layout.

Chiswick issued one single in the UK: “That Final Love” (b/w “Like My Fantasy”) on May 22, 1981 (CHIS 146).

Ride Blue Divide

Sniff ‘n’ the Tears released their fourth album, Ride Blue Divide, in July 1982 on Chiswick.

The album retains the five-piece Love/Action lineup of Paul Roberts, keyboardist Mike Taylor, bassist Nick South, guitarist Les Davidson, and drummer Jamie Lane. Lew Lewis contributes harmonica, Julian Diggle adds congas, and Pat Crumley’s saxophone parts are replaced here by Dick Morrissey. Select tracks feature horns arranged by Davidson and performed by Morrissey (sax), Martin Drover (trumpet), and Derek Wadsworth (trombone). Martin Jay and Stevie Lange provide backing vocals. Roberts sings lead and wrote all nine tracks.

A1. “The Hand of Fate” (4:36)
A2. “Hungry Eyes” (3:30)
A3. “Company Man” (5:15)
A4. “Roll the Weight Away” (3:40)
A5. “Like Wildfire” (3:19)

B1. “Trouble Is My Business” (4:48)
B2. “You May Find Your Heart” (5:13)
B3. “Gold” (4:33)
B4. “Ride Blue Divide” (5:04)

Sessions took place at Battery Studios in Willesden with Mike Shipley engineering, recording, and mixing. The band self-produced the album under the group name after declining co-production by Lane. This marks their final studio project of the original era. Davidson arranged all horn parts; Lewis’s harmonica features prominently on “Hungry Eyes.”

Ride Blue Divide features cover artwork by Paul Roberts. No printed inner sleeve or lyric insert was issued.

Chiswick issued one single: “Hungry Eyes” (b/w “Bagatelle”) on July 16, 1982 (DICE 10).

Postlude

Following Ride Blue Divide, Sniff ‘n’ the Tears quietly disbanded in 1982. Loz Netto recovered from a motorbike accident and launched his own project, releasing Loz Netto’s Bzar that year on 21 Records. The album spawned a minor MTV hit with the single “Fade Away.”

After three years devoted primarily to painting, Paul Roberts returned with the 1985 Sonet release City Without Walls, his debut solo album. The sessions featured Robin Langridge (keyboards), Richie Stevens (drums), Clem Clempson and Les Davidson (guitars), with Mo Foster on bass. ANoel McCalla and Ian Maidman supplied backing vocals and bass on select tracks. The single “Back to England” charted in Germany.

Roberts followed with Kettle Drum Blues in 1987, recorded with engineer and co-producer Phill Brown. The lineup combined returning collaborators with new players including Simon Edwards, Jodi Linscott, and Morris Michael. Tim Renwick played lead guitar on “Ready for Me Now” and “Sexual Chemistry,” with Clempson handling slide guitar on the title track.

Discography: